What is HIV treatment?

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment, also called antiretroviral therapy (ART), refers to the medications people with HIV take so they can live long and healthy lives.

HIV is a virus that attacks and destroys your infection-fighting immune system cells — CD4 cells. Without these cells, your body can’t fight off infections and certain HIV-related cancers.

HIV treatment stops the virus from multiplying in your body, decreasing your viral load (the amount of HIV in your body). Low HIV levels give your immune system a chance to repair itself and make more infection-fighting cells.

Though HIV treatment isn’t a cure for HIV, it keeps viral load levels low enough that your immune system can protect you from infections and HIV cancers. If you have an undetectable viral load, your risk of transmitting the virus to your sexual partner is low.
 

What medications are part of HIV treatment?

HIV treatment usually involves a combination of HIV medications. The different types of HIV medications are grouped into classes based on how they fight the virus.

HIV medication classes include:
 

Non-nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)

NNRTIs bind to specific proteins in HIV, preventing it from multiplying and spreading throughout your body.
 

Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)

NRTIs cause the virus to make faulty versions of the protein it needs to replicate.
 

Protease inhibitors (PIs)

PIs block a protein that the HIV-infected cells need to make the virus.
 

Fusion inhibitors

Fusion inhibitors stop the virus from getting into a cell.
 

CCR5 agonists

CCR5 agonists also block the virus from entering a cell.
 

Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs)

INSTIs prevent the virus from multiplying by blocking a protein the virus uses to put its DNA into the DNA of a healthy cell.
 

Post-attachment inhibitors

Post-attachment inhibitors are a new HIV treatment for people with drug-resistant HIV.

Your HIV treatment may include a combination of these medications.
 

What do I need to know about HIV treatment?

You and your provider will discuss your HIV treatment and the different medications that can help decrease your viral load. They also explain the side effects.

Creating an HIV treatment plan that keeps you healthy is the goal. You must take your HIV medication as prescribed to keep your viral load low and prevent the virus from becoming drug-resistant.

To learn more about HIV treatment at Reza Health, call or schedule an appointment online today.